Local members of UNITE the Union, and from the People Against Cuts group based in Wigan will be joining Greater Manchester campaigners for free public transport at Leigh Bus Station at 12.00 noon on Saturday to raise awareness of the potential threat to 60 and overs' Free Bus Pass under the Government's public spending cutbacks.
The free bus pass, a key benefit for 11 million over-60s, costs £1bn a year, but is the cause of mounting tension between local authorities and bus operators. Both sides say it is inadequately funded and the financial strain has increased since it was extended to allow pensioners to travel anywhere in the country. "This has financial strain as been further exacerbated recently given the new Coalition Government's huge public sector cuts agenda" said Leigh UNITE Branch President Stephen Hall.
"Meeting at its first national policy Conference in Manchester in June, UNITE which is Britain's largest trades union and which represents bus drivers as well as other workers, resolved to add its weight to the fight to defend the pass, and that is precisely what local members from the Leigh branch will be doing on Saturday".
The Leigh rally will be calling for the retention of the pass in its current form and for its immediate extension to all under 18s and those out of work in our communities as the first step towards a massively expanded, fully integrated, publicly owned and completely free of fare public transport system for us all financed by progressive taxation.
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